Vehicle information display system

ABSTRACT

A vehicle information display system an operation section provided at one side in a vehicle width direction relative to a driver seat, the operation section being structured so as to be operable by a vehicle occupant; and a display section provided at a position that is viewable from the driver seat, a vicinity information display region in which vicinity information of the vehicle being displayed being specified at a central portion of the display section, and a selection option display region being specified at one side in the vehicle width direction of the display section, relative to the vicinity information display region, the selection option display region being selectable by the vehicle occupant operating the operation section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2020-146389 filed on Aug. 31, 2020, thedisclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an information display system for avehicle.

Related Art

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2019-006277 discloses avehicle provided with a switch unit to the side of a seat cushion of adriver seat. In the configuration of JP-A No. 2019-006277, when theswitch unit is operated, the switch unit accepts input operations duringautonomous driving. A display device is provided to the front of thedriver seat. Selection options displayed at a display portion by thedisplay device may be selected by operation of the switch unit.

However, a display position of a selection option displayed at thedisplay portion and a position of the switch unit do not correspond.Therefore, when an operation section in addition to the switch unit isprovided, a position of this operation section for selecting a selectionoption is difficult to understand.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a vehicle information display systemthat, in a configuration in which a selection option displayed at adisplay section may be selected by operation of an operation section,enables selection of the selection option with little effort.

A vehicle information display system according to a first aspect of thepresent disclosure includes: an operation section provided at one sidein a vehicle width direction relative to a driver seat, the operationsection being structured so as to be operable by a vehicle occupant; anda display section provided at a position that is viewable from thedriver seat, a vicinity information display region in which vicinityinformation of the vehicle being displayed being specified at a centralportion of the display section, and a selection option display regionbeing specified at one side in the vehicle width direction of thedisplay section, relative to the vicinity information display region,the selection option display region being selectable by the vehicleoccupant operating the operation section.

In the vehicle information display system according to the first aspectof the present disclosure, the operation section is provided at the oneside relative to the driver seat in the vehicle width direction, and theoperation section is structured so as to be operable by a vehicleoccupant. The display section is provided at a position that is viewablefrom the driver seat, and the vicinity information display region inwhich vicinity information of the vehicle is displayed is specified tobe at the central portion of the display section. Therefore, a vehicleoccupant sitting on the driver seat may verify vicinity information ofthe vehicle from the information displayed in the vicinity informationdisplay region.

The selection option display region, which is selectable by the vehicleoccupant operating the operation section, is provided at the one side inthe vehicle width direction relative to the vicinity information displayregion, that is, at the side relative to the driver seat at which theoperation section is provided. Therefore, when a selection option isdisplayed in the selection option display region, the selection optionmay be selected by the vehicle occupant intuitively operating theoperation section that is provided in the same direction as theselection option display region. For example, when the selection optiondisplay region is specified at the vehicle left side of the vicinityinformation display region, the vehicle occupant may select a selectionoption by operating the operation section that is provided at the leftside. Conversely, when the selection option display region is specifiedat the vehicle right side of the vicinity information display region,the vehicle occupant may select a selection option by operating theoperation section that is provided at the right side. The meaning of theterm “one side in the vehicle width direction relative to the driverseat” as used herein is intended to include directions that are offsetto the one side in the vehicle width direction relative to the center inthe vehicle width direction of the driver seat. Therefore, this term isnot limited to structures in which the operation section is provided atan armrest, a center console or the like that is disposed to the side ofa seat cushion of the driver seat, but broadly encompasses structures inwhich the operation section is provided at an instrument panel to thefront relative to the driver seat. Further, this term encompasses astructure in which, when the center in the vehicle width direction ofthe driver seat coincides with the center in the vehicle width directionof a steering wheel, the operation section is provided at the one sidein the vehicle width direction relative to the center of the steeringwheel in a state in which the steering wheel is not operated.

In a vehicle information display system according to a second aspect ofthe present disclosure, in the first aspect, a non-selectable imagedisplay region may be specified at an opposite side of the vicinityinformation display region from the side thereof at which the selectionoption display region is specified, the non-selectable image displayregion not being selectable in a case in which the vehicle occupantoperates the operation section.

In the vehicle information display system according to the second aspectof the present disclosure, the central portion of the display sectionserves as the vicinity information display region, the one side in thevehicle width direction of the vicinity information display regionserves as the selection option display region, and the other side in thevehicle width direction of the vicinity information display regionserves as the non-selectable image display region. Therefore, selectionoptions are to be displayed at the same position of the display section,and when a selection option is displayed in the selection option displayregion, the vehicle occupant may move their hand and perform anoperation at the same side as the selection option without thinking.Thus, misoperation may be suppressed.

In a vehicle information display system according to a third aspect ofthe present disclosure, in the second aspect, the vehicle informationdisplay system may be installed in a vehicle that is switchable betweenautonomous driving and manual driving and, during autonomous driving, aplanned action of the vehicle is displayed at the non-selectable imagedisplay region.

In the vehicle information display system according to the third aspectof the present disclosure, because planned actions of the vehicle aredisplayed at the non-selectable image display region during autonomousdriving, movements of the vehicle may be understood in advance. Themeaning of the term “autonomous driving” as used herein is not limitedto a driving mode in which the vehicle runs without the vehicle occupantperforming any operations, including steering andacceleration/deceleration, but includes driving modes in which thevehicle occupant performs a predetermined operation to maintain a stateof operation of driving assistance functions. That is, the concept of“autonomous driving” broadly encompasses a driving mode in which thevehicle occupant holds the steering wheel to maintain the state ofoperation of driving assistance functions, a driving mode in which thevehicle occupant keeps their foot on an accelerator pedal to maintainthe state of operation of driving assistance functions, and the like.

In a vehicle information display system according to a fourth aspect ofthe present disclosure, in the third aspect, during autonomous driving,a proposal relating to running of the vehicle may be displayed in aselectable state at the selection option display region.

In the vehicle information display system according to the fourth aspectof the present disclosure, a selection option may be selected withoutmisoperation even when a proposal is displayed in a state duringautonomous driving or the like in which the vehicle occupant has takentheir hands from the steering wheel and is relaxing.

In a vehicle information display system according to a fifth aspect ofthe present disclosure, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, theoperation section may include a steering switch provided at a steeringwheel.

In the vehicle information display system according to the fifth aspectof the present disclosure, when the vehicle occupant operates thesteering switch in, for example, a state in which the vehicle occupantis holding the steering wheel, the vehicle occupant moves their hand tothe same side as the side at which a selection option is displayed tooperate the operation section. Therefore, the selection option may beselected without misoperation.

In a vehicle information display system according to a sixth aspect ofthe present disclosure, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, theoperation section may include a switch provided at one of an armrest ora center console.

In the vehicle information display system according to the sixth aspectof the present disclosure, when the vehicle occupant operates the switchin a state during autonomous driving or the like in which the vehicleoccupant has taken their hands from the steering wheel, the vehicleoccupant does not need to extend their arm to the steering wheel.

In a vehicle information display system according to a seventh aspect ofthe present disclosure, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, thedisplay section may include: a first display section on which images areprojected by a head-up display device, and a second display sectionprovided at a vehicle front of the driver seat at an instrument panel ata vehicle lower side of the first display section, the vicinityinformation display region and the selection option display region beingspecified at both the first display section and the second displaysection.

In the vehicle information display system according to the seventhaspect of the present disclosure, the selection option display region isdisplayed at both the first display section and the second displaysection. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the selectionoption display region is specified at only one of the first displaysection and the second display section, cases of a display of aselection option in the selection option display region not beingnoticed may be suppressed.

In a vehicle information display system according to an eighth aspect ofthe present disclosure, in the third aspect or the fourth aspect, adirection display mark and speed marks are displayed at the vicinityinformation display region, the direction display mark displaying aprogress direction of the vehicle at regular intervals during autonomousdriving, and the speed marks being displayed superposed with thedirection display mark, and a spacing of the speed marks changing inaccordance with a speed of the vehicle.

In the vehicle information display system according to the eighth aspectof the present disclosure, movements of the vehicle during autonomousdriving may be understood just by seeing the direction display mark andthe speed marks.

In a vehicle information display system according to a ninth aspect ofthe present disclosure, in the eighth aspect, the speed marks aredisplayed with constant spacings in a case in which a speed of thevehicle is constant, and the speed marks are displayed such thatspacings increase in a case in which the vehicle accelerates.

A vehicle information display system according to a tenth aspect of thepresent disclosure includes: an operation section provided at one sidein a vehicle width direction or a vehicle vertical direction, relativeto a central portion of a steering wheel, the operation section beingstructured so as to be operable by a vehicle occupant; and a displaysection provided at a position that is viewable from a driver seat, avicinity information display region in which vicinity information of thevehicle being displayed being specified at a central portion of thedisplay section, and a selection option display region being specifiedat one side in the vehicle width direction or the vehicle verticaldirection of the display section, relative to the vicinity informationdisplay region, the selection option display region being selectable bythe vehicle occupant operating the operation section.

In the vehicle information display system according to the tenth aspectof the present disclosure, a selection option display region, which isselectable by the vehicle occupant operating the operation section, isprovided at the one side in the vehicle width direction or the one sidein the vehicle vertical direction relative to the vicinity informationdisplay region, that is, at the side relative to the driver seat atwhich the operation section is provided. Therefore, when a selectionoption is displayed in the selection option display region, the vehicleoccupant sitting on the driver seat may select the selection option byintuitively operating the operation section that is provided in the samedirection as the selection option display region. For example, when theselection option display region is specified at the vehicle upper sideof the vicinity information display region, the vehicle occupant mayselect a selection option by operating the operation section that isprovided at the upper side. Conversely, when the selection optiondisplay region is specified at the vehicle lower side of the vicinityinformation display region, the vehicle occupant may select a selectionoption by operating the operation section that is provided at the lowerside.

The present disclosure provides a vehicle information display systemthat, in a configuration in which a selection option displayed at adisplay section may be selected by operation of an operation section,enables selection of the selection option with little effort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically illustrating a state in which acabin front portion of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment isviewed from the vehicle rear side;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating hardware structures of thevehicle information display system according to the exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 3A is a view illustrating an example of a display screen of a firstdisplay section during manual driving;

FIG. 3B is a view illustrating an example of a display screen of asecond display section during manual driving;

FIG. 4A is a view illustrating an example of a display screen of thefirst display section during autonomous driving;

FIG. 4B is a view illustrating an example of a display screen of thesecond display section during autonomous driving;

FIG. 5A is a view illustrating another example of a display screen ofthe first display section during autonomous driving;

FIG. 5B is a view illustrating another example of a display screen ofthe second display section during autonomous driving.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A vehicle information display system 10 according to an exemplaryembodiment is employed in a vehicle 12. The vehicle 12 is described withreference to the drawings. As an example, the vehicle 12 according tothe present exemplary embodiment is configured to be switchable betweenautonomous driving and manual driving.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , an instrument panel 14 is provided at a frontportion of a cabin interior of the vehicle 12. The instrument panel 14extends in the vehicle width direction, and a steering wheel 16 isprovided at the vehicle right side of the instrument panel 14. That is,the present exemplary embodiment is an example of a right-hand drive carin which the steering wheel 16 is provided at the right side and adriver seat is specified to be at the vehicle right side.

A windshield glass 18 is provided at a front end portion of theinstrument panel 14. The windshield glass 18 extends in the vehiclevertical direction and the vehicle width direction, dividing the cabininterior from the cabin exterior.

A vehicle right side end portion of the windshield glass 18 is fixed toa vehicle right side front pillar 20. The front pillar 20 extends in thevehicle vertical direction, and the windshield glass 18 is fixed to avehicle width direction inner side end portion of the front pillar 20. Afront end portion of a front side glass 22 is fixed to a vehicle widthdirection outer side end portion of the front pillar 20. A vehicle leftside end portion of the windshield glass 18 is fixed to a vehicle leftside front pillar, which is not illustrated in the drawings.

A first display section 24 is provided at the windshield glass 18. Thefirst display section 24 is constituted by a projection surface that isprojected onto by a head-up display device (HUD) 23, which isillustrated in FIG. 2 . Specifically, the head-up display device 23 isprovided at the vehicle front side relative to the instrument panel 14,and the head-up display device 23 is structured to project images ontothe first display section 24 of the windshield glass 18.

A second display section 26 is provided at the vehicle lower siderelative to the first display section 24. The second display section 26is a display section that is displayed in an instrument cluster 25. Theinstrument cluster 25 is disposed at the instrument panel 14 to thevehicle front of the driver seat. Thus, the first display section 24 andthe second display section 26 are provided at positions that areviewable by a driver.

Hardware Structures of the Vehicle Information Display System 10

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the vehicle information display system 10according to the present exemplary embodiment includes an electroniccontrol unit (ECU) 28.

The ECU 28 includes a central processing unit (CPU or processor) 30,read-only memory (ROM) 32, random access memory (RAM) 34, storage 36 andan input/output interface 38. These structures are connected to becapable of communicating with one another via an internal bus 39.

The CPU 30 is a central arithmetic processing unit that executes variousprograms and controls respective parts. That is, the CPU 30 reads aprogram from the ROM 32 or the storage 36, and executes the programusing the RAM 34 as a workspace. The CPU 30 performs control of thestructures described above and various kinds of computational processingin accordance with programs recorded in the ROM 32 or the storage 36.

The ROM 32 stores various programs and various kinds of data. The RAM 34serves as a workspace, temporarily memorizing programs and data. Thestorage 36 is a non-transitory recording medium structured by a harddisk drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD). The storage 36 storesvarious programs, including an operating system, and various kinds ofdata. In the present exemplary embodiment, the ROM 32 or the storage 36stores a display program and the like for implementing displayprocessing. Various input/output devices are connected to theinput/output interface 38.

The ECU 28 is connected to an autonomous driving ECU 40. Similarly tothe ECU 28, the autonomous driving ECU 40 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM,storage and an input/output interface, which are not illustrated in thedrawings.

A sensor group 42 and an actuator group 44 are connected to theautonomous driving ECU 40. The sensor group 42 detects current states ofthe vehicle. The actuator group 44 controls running of the vehicle. Thesensor group 42 includes plural sensors among various sensors, such ascameras, radar, lidar (light detection and ranging or laser imagingdetection and ranging), a GPS (global positioning system) sensor and soforth. The cameras image the vicinity of the vehicle. The radar detectsdistances and directions of objects in the vicinity of the vehicle withelectromagnetic waves. The lidar detects distances and directions ofobjects in the vicinity of the vehicle with laser light. The GPS sensordetects a current position of the vehicle. The sensor group 42 may alsoinclude sensors that detect states of vehicle occupants. For example,the sensor group 42 may include biosensors that detect pulse rates,levels of alertness and the like of vehicle occupants.

The actuator group 44 includes acceleration and braking actuators thatregulate acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, and a steeringactuator that drives a steering apparatus of the vehicle. The autonomousdriving ECU 40 implements autonomous driving of the vehicle bycontrolling operations of the actuator group 44 in accordance withcurrent states of the vehicle detected by the sensor group 42. A plannedroute representing a route along which the vehicle plans to run ismemorized in a memory section of the autonomous driving ECU 40. Theautonomous driving ECU 40 causes the vehicle to run along the plannedroute memorized in the memory section.

The ECU 28 is connected to the instrument cluster 25, the HUD 23 and asteering switch 46, which serves as an operation section. As illustratedin FIG. 1 , the steering switch 46 is provided at the vehicle left side(one side in the vehicle width direction) relative to a central portionof the steering wheel 16 when the steering wheel 16 is at an initialposition thereof. As an example in the present exemplary embodiment, thecenter in the vehicle width direction of the driver seat coincides withthe center in the vehicle width direction of the steering wheel 16.Therefore, the steering switch 46 is provided at the vehicle left siderelative to the center in the vehicle width direction of the driverseat.

The steering switch 46 according to the present exemplary embodimentincludes a set button 46A and a select button 46B, which are operable bya vehicle occupant. The set button 46A is disposed at the middle of thesteering switch 46. The vehicle occupant decides on a selection optiondisplayed at the first display section 24 and the second display section26 by pushing the set button 46A. The select button 46B is formedsubstantially in a frame shape encircling the set button 46A. Thevehicle occupant changes between selection options displayed at thefirst display section 24 and the second display section 26 by pushingthe select button 46B up, down, left and right.

Switches that are not illustrated in the drawings are provided at thevehicle right side relative to the central portion of the steering wheel16. When operated by the vehicle occupant, these switches switch preferrunning assistance functions corresponding to the switches betweenoperation and non-operation.

Display Screens During Manual Driving

Now, an example of display screens at the first display section 24 andthe second display section 26 during manual driving is described withreference to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, during manual driving, vicinity informationof the vehicle 12 is displayed at a central portion of the first displaysection 24. More specifically, a preceding vehicle mark M1 and lanedemarcation lines are displayed. The preceding vehicle mark M1represents a vehicle in front. The lane demarcation lines are at bothsides of a lane in which the vehicle 12 is running. A distance from thevehicle in front is calculated on the basis of information from thesensor group 42, and the size of the preceding vehicle mark M1 changesin accordance with the distance from the vehicle in front. When thedistance from a vehicle in front is more than a predetermined distance,the preceding vehicle mark M1 is not displayed.

Substantially circular arc-shaped marks M2 in FIG. 3A illustrate a statein which an automatic cruise control function is operating, which is anexample of driving assistance. In this example, the vehicle speed iscontrolled such that the distance from the vehicle in front is constant.A mark M3 representing an arrow in FIG. 3A illustrates a state in whichan overtaking function is operating, which is a further example ofdriving assistance.

An icon relating to a speed limit and the current speed of the vehicle12 are displayed at the left side of the first display section 24.Navigation system information is displayed at the right side of thefirst display section 24. As an example in this display screen, aninstruction to turn left 300 m ahead of the current position isdisplayed.

As illustrated in FIG. 3B, during manual driving, vicinity informationof the vehicle 12, engine speed and the speed of the vehicle 12 aredisplayed at a central portion of the second display section 26. In FIG.3B, information relating to the cruise control and overtaking functionsis displayed similarly to FIG. 3A.

Information relating to outside air temperature is displayed at the leftside of the second display section 26. The current time and informationrelating to a distance until autonomous driving is possible aredisplayed at the right side of the second display section 26. As anexample, the display in FIG. 3B illustrates that autonomous driving maybe employed at a location 7 km ahead of the current position.

Display Screens During Autonomous Driving

Now, examples of display screens at the first display section 24 and thesecond display section 26 during autonomous driving are described withreference to FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, during autonomous driving, a vicinityinformation display region 50A is specified at the central portion ofthe first display section 24. Vicinity information of the vehicle isdisplayed in the vicinity information display region 50A. The precedingvehicle mark M1 representing a vehicle in front is displayed in thevicinity information display region 50A. Lane demarcation lines at bothsides of a lane in which the vehicle 12 is running are also illustratedin the vicinity information display region 50A.

A bump portion C that protrudes to the upper side is displayed at alower portion of the vicinity information display region 50A. The bumpportion C corresponds with a position of the front end of the vehicle12. That is, the first display section 24 displays the vicinityinformation of the vehicle 12 in a first person view.

Direction display marks M4 that indicate a progress direction of thevehicle 12 at regular intervals are displayed in the vicinityinformation display region 50A. The direction display marks M4 extend insubstantial strip shapes from the bump portion C toward the precedingvehicle mark M1 of the vehicle in front. Although not illustrated in thedrawings, when the vehicle 12 is turning left or right, the directiondisplay marks M4 are displayed in states that curve along the progressdirection of the vehicle 12.

Speed marks M5, whose spacings change in accordance with speeds of thevehicle, are displayed superposed with the direction display marks M4.The speed marks M5 are plurally displayed spaced apart along thedirection display marks M4. When the speed of the vehicle 12 isconstant, the speed marks M5 are displayed with a constant spacing. Whenthe vehicle 12 is accelerating, the speed marks M5 are displayed suchthat the spacings increase in the progress direction. Conversely, whenthe vehicle 12 is decelerating, the speed marks M5 are displayed suchthat the spacings decrease in the progress direction.

A selection option display region 52A is specified at the vehicle leftside (the one side in the vehicle width direction) relative to thevicinity information display region 50A. The selection option displayregion 52A is selectable by the vehicle occupant operating the steeringswitch 46. Proposals relating to running of the vehicle 12 duringautonomous driving are displayed in selectable states in the selectionoption display region 52A. In FIG. 4A, nothing is displayed in theselection option display region 52A, because there is no proposal forthe vehicle occupant.

A non-selectable image display region 54A is specified at the vehicleright side relative to the vicinity information display region 50A, thatis, at the opposite side of the vicinity information display region 50Afrom the side thereof at which the selection option display region 52Ais specified. The non-selectable image display region 54A is notselectable even when the vehicle occupant operates the steering switch46. As an example in the present exemplary embodiment, planned actionsof the vehicle 12 during autonomous driving are displayed in thenon-selectable image display region 54A. More specifically, majorplanned actions according to a running plan formulated by the autonomousdriving ECU 40 are displayed in the non-selectable image display region54A. The content of the non-selectable image display region 54A in FIG.4A illustrates a planned lane change 400 m ahead. The content of thenon-selectable image display region 54A also illustrates a planned lanechange 900 m ahead.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, during autonomous driving, a vicinityinformation display region 50B is specified at the central portion ofthe second display section 26. The vicinity information display region50B displays vicinity information of the vehicle. The preceding vehiclemark M1 representing the vehicle in front, and a present vehicle mark M6representing the vehicle 12 are displayed in the vicinity informationdisplay region 50B. That is, the second display section 26 displays thevicinity information of the vehicle 12 in a third person view. Thedirection display marks M4 and speed marks M5 are also displayed in thevicinity information display region 50B.

The speed of the vehicle 12, a set speed and the like are displayed inthe second display section 26 at the upper side of the vicinityinformation display region 50B. A selection option display region 52B isspecified at the vehicle left side relative to the vicinity informationdisplay region 50B, similarly to FIG. 4A. The outside air temperature isdisplayed at the upper side of the selection option display region 52B.A non-selectable image display region 54B is specified at the vehicleright side relative to the vicinity information display region 50B,similarly to FIG. 4A.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, when there is a proposal for the vehicleoccupant, a proposal that relates to running of the vehicle 12 isdisplayed in the selection option display region 52A in a selectablestate. As an example in FIG. 5A, a proposal relating to overtaking of avehicle in front is displayed in the selection option display region52A.

More specifically, an image detailing overtaking of the vehicle in frontis displayed in an upper portion of the selection option display region52A, and the proposal to overtake the vehicle in front is displayed astext at the lower side of this image. A selection option M7 to acceptthe proposal and a selection option M8 to reject the proposal aredisplayed below the text. In FIG. 5A, the selection option M7 issurrounded by a frame. Thus, a state in which the selection option M7 isto be selected is viewable.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the content of the display in the selectionoption display region 52B of the second display section 26 is similar tothe first display section 24. In the second display section 26, theselection option M7 is displayed in inverted colors. Thus, the state inwhich the selection option M7 is to be selected is viewable.

Selection of the selection option M7 or the selection option M8 may bechanged by the vehicle occupant pushing an upper portion or lowerportion of the select button 46B of the steering switch 46 illustratedin FIG. 1 . For example, from the state in FIG. 5A, if the vehicleoccupant pushes the lower portion of the select button 46B, the displaychanges such that the frame surrounding the selection option M7transfers down to surround the selection option M8. Similarly, from thestate in FIG. 5B, when the vehicle occupant pushes the lower portion ofthe select button 46B, the inversion of the selection option M7 isremoved and the display of the selection option M8 is inverted.Similarly to FIG. 5A, the selection option M7 or selection option M8 inFIG. 5B may be displayed surrounded by a frame.

If the vehicle occupant pushes the set button 46A of the steering switch46 in the state in which the selection option M7 is selected, a signalaccepting the proposal is sent to the ECU 28. Correspondingly, theactuator group 44 of the autonomous driving ECU 40 is controlled and thevehicle 12 is caused to run so as to overtake the vehicle in front.

On the other hand, if the vehicle occupant pushes the set button 46A ofthe steering switch 46 in the state in which the selection option M8 isselected, a signal rejecting the proposal is sent to the ECU 28. In thiscase, the displays of the proposal displayed at the selection optiondisplay region 52A and the selection option display region 52B areerased.

Operation

Operation of the Present Exemplary Embodiment are Described Next.

In the vehicle information display system 10 according to the presentexemplary embodiment, the steering switch 46 that is the operationsection is provided at the left side relative to the driver seat (theone side in the vehicle width direction). The steering switch 46 isstructured to be operable by a vehicle occupant. The first displaysection 24 and the second display section 26 are provided at positionsthat are viewable from the driver seat. The vicinity information displayregions 50A and 50B in which vicinity information of the vehicle isdisplayed are specified at the central portions of the first displaysection 24 and the second display section 26. Therefore, the vehicleoccupant sitting on the driver seat may verify vicinity information ofthe vehicle 12 from the information displayed in the vicinityinformation display regions 50A and 50B.

The selection option display regions 52A and 52B are specified at theleft side relative to the vicinity information display regions 50A and50B (the one side in the vehicle width direction), which is to say, atthe side relative to the driver seat at which the steering switch 46 isprovided. The selection option display regions 52A and 52B areselectable by the vehicle occupant operating the steering switch 46.Therefore, when selection options M7 and M8 are displayed in theselection option display regions 52A and 52B, the vehicle occupant mayintuitively operate the steering switch 46 that is provided in the samedirection as the selection option display regions 52A and 52B to selecta selection option M7 or M8. That is, in a configuration in whichselection options M7 and M8 displayed at the first display section 24and the second display section 26 are selectable by operation of anoperation section such as the steering switch 46 or the like, theselection options M7 and M8 may be selected without mental effort.

In particular, in the selection option display regions 52A and 52Baccording to the present exemplary embodiment, proposals relating torunning of the vehicle during autonomous driving are displayed inselectable states. Therefore, even when a proposal is displayed in astate during autonomous driving or the like in which the vehicleoccupant has taken their hands from the steering wheel 16 and isrelaxing, the vehicle occupant may select the selection option M7 or M8without misoperation.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the right sides of the vicinityinformation display regions 50A and 50B (the other side in the vehiclewidth direction) serve as the non-selectable image display regions 54Aand 54B. Therefore, the selection options M7 and M8 are always displayedat the left sides of the vicinity information display regions 50A and50B, and when the selection options M7 and M8 are displayed in theselection option display regions 52A and 52B, the vehicle occupant maymove their hand and perform an operation at the same side as theselection option display regions 52A and 52B without thinking. Thus,misoperation may be suppressed.

In the present exemplary embodiment, because planned actions of thevehicle are displayed in the non-selectable image display regions 54Aand 54B during autonomous driving, movements of the vehicle may beunderstood in advance.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the selection option displayregions 52A and 52B of the vehicle 12 are specified in both the firstdisplay section 24 and the second display section 26. Therefore,compared to a configuration in which the selection option display region52A or 52B is specified at only one of the first display section 24 andthe second display section 26, cases of a display of the selectionoptions M7 and M8 in the selection option display region 52A or 52B notbeing noticed may be suppressed.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the vicinity information displayregions 50A and 50B of the vehicle 12 are specified in both the firstdisplay section 24 and the second display section 26. Therefore, forexample, in a state in which the vehicle occupant is conducting manualdriving, the vehicle occupant may drive while checking the vicinityinformation display region 50A displayed at the first display section24. On the other hand, when the vehicle occupant is in a relaxed postureduring autonomous driving, although the first display section 24 isharder to see, the vehicle occupant may check the vicinity informationdisplay region 50B displayed at the second display section 26.

Above, the vehicle information display system 10 according to theexemplary embodiment has been described, but it will be clear thatnumerous modes may be embodied within a scope that does not depart fromthe gist of the present disclosure. For example, in the exemplaryembodiment described above, the steering switch 46 serves as theoperation section, but this is not limiting. A switch provided at anarmrest or a center console may be employed as the operation section. Ifthe selection option display regions 52A and 52B are to be specified atthe left sides of the vicinity information display regions 50A and 50Bas illustrated in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the switch at the armrest orcenter console is provided at the left side relative to the driver seat.Conversely, if the selection option display regions 52A and 52B are tobe specified at the right sides of the vicinity information displayregions 50A and 50B, the switch at the armrest or center console isprovided at the right side relative to the driver seat.

In the exemplary embodiment described above, the steering switch 46 isprovided at the left side relative to the central portion of thesteering wheel 16, but this is not limiting. For example, the steeringswitch 46 may be provided at the upper-left side or lower-left siderelative to the central portion of the steering wheel 16, in which casesthe position of the steering switch 46 is still disposed at the vehicleleft side by reference to the vehicle width direction center of thedriver seat. Thus, the same effects as in the exemplary embodimentdescribed above may be provided.

In the exemplary embodiment described above, a configuration isdescribed in which the selection option display regions 52A and 52B arespecified at the left sides of the vicinity information display regions50A and 50B, but this is not limiting. For example, selection optiondisplay regions may be specified at the upper sides of the vicinityinformation display regions 50A and 50B, in which case the operationsection for selecting a selection option displayed in the selectionoption display regions is provided at the vehicle upper side relative tothe central portion of the steering wheel 16. Thus, the same effects asin the exemplary embodiment described above may be provided. Conversely,if the selection option display regions are specified at the lower sidesof the vicinity information display regions 50A and 50B, the operationsection may be provided at the vehicle lower side relative to thecentral portion of the steering wheel 16, and thus the same effects asin the exemplary embodiment described above may be provided.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle information display system installed ina vehicle that is switchable between autonomous driving and manualdriving, the system comprising: an operation section provided at oneside in a vehicle width direction relative to a driver seat, theoperation section being structured so as to be operable by a vehicleoccupant; and a display section provided at a position that is viewablefrom the driver seat, a vicinity information display region, in whichvicinity information of the vehicle is displayed, being specified at acentral portion of the display section, a selection option displayregion being specified, relative to the vicinity information displayregion, at an operation section side of the display section in thevehicle width direction, the selection option display region beingselectable by the vehicle occupant operating the operation section, anda non-selectable image display region being specified at an oppositeside of the vicinity information display region from the side thereof atwhich the selection option display region is specified, wherein duringthe autonomous driving: (i) the selection option display regiondisplays, simultaneously with the vicinity information displayed in thevicinity information display region, a plurality of proposals relatingto running of the vehicle during the autonomous driving in selectablestates; (ii) the non-selectable image display region is not selectablein a case in which the vehicle occupant operates the operation section;and (iii) a plurality of planned actions of the vehicle are displayed insequence at the non-selectable image display region, and selection ofone of the plurality of proposals by the vehicle occupant during theautonomous driving causes the vehicle to execute a corresponding actionwithout exiting the autonomous driving.
 2. The vehicle informationdisplay system of claim 1, wherein the operation section includes asteering switch provided at a steering wheel.
 3. The vehicle informationdisplay system of claim 1, wherein the operation section includes aswitch provided at one of an armrest or a center console.
 4. The vehicleinformation display system of claim 1, wherein the display sectionincludes: a first display section on which images are projected by ahead-up display device, and a second display section provided at avehicle front of the driver seat at an instrument panel at a vehiclelower side of the first display section, the vicinity informationdisplay region and the selection option display region being specifiedat both the first display section and the second display section.
 5. Thevehicle information display system of claim 1, wherein a directiondisplay mark and speed marks are displayed at the vicinity informationdisplay region, the direction display mark displays a progress directionof the vehicle at regular intervals during autonomous driving, the speedmarks are displayed superposed with the direction display mark, and aspacing of the speed marks changes in accordance with a speed of thevehicle.
 6. The vehicle information display system of claim 5, whereinthe speed marks are displayed with constant spacings in a case in whichthe speed of the vehicle is constant, and the speed marks are displayedsuch that spacings increase in a case in which the vehicle accelerates.7. A vehicle information display system comprising: an operation sectionprovided, relative to a central portion of a steering wheel, at one sidein a vehicle width direction or a vehicle vertical direction, theoperation section being structured so as to be operable by a vehicleoccupant; and a display section provided at a position that is viewablefrom a driver seat, a vicinity information display region, in whichvicinity information of the vehicle is displayed, being specified at acentral portion of the display section, a selection option displayregion being specified, relative to the vicinity information displayregion, at an operation section side of the display section in thevehicle width direction or the vehicle vertical direction, the selectionoption display region being selectable by the vehicle occupant operatingthe operation section, and a non-selectable image display region beingspecified at an opposite side of the vicinity information display regionfrom the side thereof at which the selection option display region isspecified, wherein during autonomous driving: (i) the selection optiondisplay region displays, simultaneously with the vicinity informationdisplayed in the vicinity information display region, a plurality ofproposals relating to running of the vehicle during the autonomousdriving in selectable states; (ii) the non-selectable image displayregion is not selectable in a case in which the vehicle occupantoperates the operation section; and (iii) a plurality of planned actionsof the vehicle are displayed in sequence at the non-selectable imagedisplay region, and selection of one of the plurality of proposals bythe vehicle occupant during the autonomous driving causes the vehicle toexecute a corresponding action without exiting the autonomous driving.